How to Properly Clean Your Hair Brush

Just as you wash your hair to remove oil and buildup, your hair brush also needs regular cleaning. From dust, excess hair and styling products, there’s no telling what is stuck in its bristles. It definitely doesn’t make sense to brush your clean hair with a dirty brush. Here are some quick tips for properly cleaning your hair brush:

How to Clean a Hair Brush

Supplies:

  • Skinny Comb with a pointed end OR a pen or pencil
  • Scissors
  • Brush
  • Toothbrush (optional)
  • Gentle Shampoo (optional)

 

How-To:

  • Get your usual brush or any other brush that’s collected a lot of hair. For this tutorial, we’re using a paddle brush, but these steps will also work for round brushes. 
  • If you’re a professional, you may have special tools that help keep your supplies clean. At home though, it’s also easy. If you’ve got the recommended comb, use the pointed handle end in this step, if not, use your pen or pencil to slide under the hair, to help loosen it. Pull on hair to loosen even more. This not only helps dislodge built up fibers, but it gives you a clear view of the hair you’re working on so that you don’t accidentally cut the bristles in the next step.
  • With the hair loosened, you may be able to simply remove it. But if it’s thick and really built up, take your scissors and cut straight down the middle. If you’re cleaning a round brush, flip it over and repeat this step on the other side.
  • Now pull the hair apart, away from the brush. If there are still some built up spots of hair, like in our example, go back through with your pencil/pen to loosen them.
  • Throw away your hair ball.

 

Extra Credit:

  • Cleaning your brush on a daily basis will avoid buildup. 
  • For a deeper, thorough clean, you can wash your brush. However, never submerge your brush as this can ruin it. There are two easy ways to clean. You can mix a small amount of shampoo into your clean sink of water then swirl the brush head around in the water, followed by scrubbing with the toothbrush for extra cleansing. OR apply a small amount of shampoo directly to the toothbrush and scrub your hair brush, then rinse by dipping in the water.
  • If your brush has a wooden base and natural bristles, you’ll need to be a little more careful. Use a gentle shampoo or even natural tea tree oil to disinfect the brush without harming it. Use a spray bottle of water to concentrate moisture just where it’s needed, without over-wetting the brush.
  • To dry your brush, lay it bristle side down on a clean, dry towel.

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